CEN14LA474

Factual narrative

On July 27, 2014, about 1830 central daylight time, a Piper PA-28RT-201T airplane, N2148J, was substantially damaged during landing rollout at Ellington Airport (EFD), Houston, Texas. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed during the flight, which departed without a flight plan from La Porte Municipal Airport (T41), La Porte, Texas about 1715. While departing from T41, the pilot noted the landing gear unsafe light (red) was illuminated after retracting the landing gear. After extending the landing gear using emergency extension procedures, the right main landing gear light (green) did not illuminate. The pilot accomplished a low approach and received a visual report of his landing gear condition from tower personnel at Scholes Airport (GLS), Galveston, Texas, who informed him the landing gear appeared to be down. The pilot proceeded from GLS to EFD for landing. During rollout at EFD, the right main landing gear collapsed, damaging the right aileron. Following the accident, a mechanic replaced the landing gear hydraulic pump, solenoids, and springs. After these components were replaced, the landing gear operated normally during ground testing. These maintenance actions were performed without the awareness or approval of the Federal Aviation Administration inspector conducting the investigation. While on a visual departure, the pilot noted that the red landing gear unsafe light was illuminated after he retracted the landing gear. The pilot attempted to extend the landing gear using emergency extension procedures, but the green right main landing gear light did not illuminate. The pilot contacted a tower air traffic controller at an en route airport to request a visual report on the landing gear. The tower controller reported that the landing gear appeared to be down. The pilot then proceeded to the destination airport to land. During the landing roll, the right main landing gear collapsed. Following the accident, a mechanic replaced the landing gear hydraulic pump, solenoids, and springs. After these components were replaced, the landing gear operated normally during ground testing. The maintenance actions were performed before investigators examined the landing gear. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

• C Aircraft-Aircraft systems-Landing gear system-Main landing gear-Failure - C
• C Not determined-Not determined-(general)-(general)-Unknown/Not determined - C